Aztecs football in talks to play at Ohio State in 2013

After turning down a chance to play Alabama earlier this year, the Aztecs are in talks with Ohio State to play the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio in 2013

According to The Columbus Dispatch,
which first reported the deal
, the Buckeyes had a hole open up in their schedule after a game against Vanderbilt was dropped.

The Dispatch reported that the likely date for the Aztecs vs. Ohio State contest would be Sept. 7.

The Aztecs don't know their conference schedule for 2013 because the Big East has yet to release this.

But their non-conference slate for next season is already set, with the home opener on August 31 against Eastern Illinois, followed by an away game against Utah State on Sept. 7, a second away game at San Jose State, and then a home game against Oregon State.

"There are discussions,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told the Dispatch when asked about any plans to play San Diego State. “But there are discussions with other people, too. I can’t confirm that anything is done."

To accommodate the Buckeyes' late scheduling request for Sept. 7, the Aztecs would likely have to drop Utah State from their schedule.

"We are currently exploring several scheduling opportunities for the 2013 football season,” SDSU Athletic Director Jim Sterk said when asked about whether the Aztecs are planning to schedule a game at Ohio State next year.

Midway through the first year of the Urban Meyer era, the Buckeyes (8-0 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) are currently ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll.

If the deal goes through, this would mark the second time in the Rocky Long era that the Aztecs go on the road to play Big Ten competition. SDSU lost 28-7 at Michigan in 2011.

The Aztecs and Buckeyes last faced off in 2005 in Columbus. SDSU lost 27-6. Ohio State leads the Aztecs 3-0 in the teams' all-time head-to-head record.